2026 World Cup Stadiums: Extreme Heat Rising

Climate Central analysis shows that 14 of the 16 host stadiums for the 2026 World Cup are experiencing more extremely hot days during the June-July tournament period than in 1970. Human-caused climate change is responsible for an average of 49% of these extreme heat days across all stadiums, with the highest impact seen in Miami and Mexico City. In 10 repeat host cities, the frequency of extremely hot days has tripled on average since they last hosted the tournament.

• Fourteen of the 16 host stadiums for the 2026 World Cup now experience a higher number of extremely hot days during the June-July tournament window compared to the first North American World Cup in 1970, with San Francisco and Los Angeles being the only exceptions.
• Human-induced climate change, specifically pollution from burning fossil fuels, is responsible for an average of 49% of all extremely hot June-July days across the 16 stadiums since 1970. The impact is most severe at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (95% of extreme days added by climate change) and Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (92%).
• In 10 cities that have previously hosted the World Cup, the frequency of extremely hot June-July days has tripled on average when comparing the last 10 years (2016-2025) to the decade preceding their last tournament. Miami and Mexico City saw the most significant increase, with seven times more extreme heat days.
• Extreme heat is most prevalent at stadiums in Miami, Mexico City, Houston, and Guadalajara, each averaging at least 10 extremely hot June-July days per year over the last decade. Of these, only Houston's stadium is fully climate-controlled, while the others are open-air.
• High humidity combined with extreme heat creates risks of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Stadiums in Dallas, Houston, Miami, and Monterrey frequently experience wet-bulb temperatures of 28°C or higher during June and July, which puts players at risk.

APA

Climate Central (2026). 2026 World Cup Stadiums: Extreme Heat Rising. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-stadiums

Chicago

Climate Central. 2026 World Cup Stadiums: Extreme Heat Rising. 2026. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-stadiums.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=2026 World Cup Stadiums: Extreme Heat Rising |date=27 May 2026 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-stadiums |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral20262026, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{2026 World Cup Stadiums: Extreme Heat Rising}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/world-cup-stadiums}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }